Read Online Miracle Woman by Marita Conlon-Mckenna - Free Book Online Page B

That boy you told us about –
and
the kids in the school yard.’
    â€˜Listen, Annie, hold on, this thing is being blown up out of all proportion. You know what the papers are like, the things they write.’
    â€˜It isn’t true, then?’
    â€˜No, it is true about Timmy, but it’s not like what they say.’ She tried to explain, knowing full well that Annie was so excited she wasn’t even properly listening to her.
    â€˜Imagine, I’m related to someone like that. Martha, it’s just so amazing.’
    â€˜You don’t believe it, then?’
    â€˜Martha, come on, you are a truly good person, even Jack says you’re a saint the way you’re always doing things for people – looking after Frances, helping out with the kids and the family. You’re always there when people need you. I guess if I were to pick someone to help and heal people, I’d pick you.’
    Martha was silent. Annie’s sincerity and trust and faith in her had both moved and surprised her. She had not expected it and was genuinely touched by her sister-in-law’s honesty.
    â€˜Thank you, Annie,’ she said simply.
    The phone continued all day: family and friends curious, offering support and trying to glean more information from her.
    By afternoon the tone of the calls had changed: strangers’ voices, urgent, pleading, asking her to see their child, heal their wife, help with a dying parent. Martha sat cradling the receiver listeningto their torrent of words, hesitant, unsure of the help or comfort she could give them but none the less arranging to see those who needed her and trying to find words for those whose spirit was wounded and broken and in need of healing.
    Mike returned from work that evening, his eyes blazing with temper as he walked by the scattering of cars parked all along Mill Street: cars of those who had parked in the hope of seeing Martha, or touching her.
    â€˜We’ll sue that paper for what they’ve done!’ he shouted, getting himself a cold beer from the fridge. ‘We have a life, a family. This is a total invasion of our privacy! Who the hell do these people think they are, coming along and parking in our street, disturbing our neighbours?’
    â€˜I’m sorry, Mike, I’m sorry. I never meant any of this to happen. Honest I didn’t.’
    â€˜I know you didn’t. I know that. Listen, with any luck in a few days all this gossip and rumour will have died down.’
    â€˜They’re all just scared and worried,’ said Martha, peering through the window. ‘See the man and woman in the green car there?’
    â€˜Yeah.’
    â€˜They want me to go visit with them and see if I can help their son. He has motor neurone disease and has only recently moved back in with them.’
    â€˜Christ!’
    â€˜I know. They want me to fly to Washingtonwith them in two days’ time and lay my hands on him.’
    â€˜Jesus, I don’t believe you!’
    â€˜It’s true, Mike. I told them I couldn’t go with them but they’re just prepared to keep a vigil out there in the hope I’ll change my mind.’
    â€˜Jesus, those poor people.’
    â€˜I know. I never could have imagined all the desperate things people have to endure. If I can help even one person in any small way I’ve got to try.’
    Mike came close and wrapped her safe in his arms, his lips kissing her forehead and nuzzling her hair. ‘Aren’t you scared of all this?’ he said.
    â€˜Course I’m scared, Mike, I never expected anything like this to happen, but something changed the other day. I don’t understand the why or how of it, but maybe I am meant to help people, and to help them heal themselves. Laying my hands on Timmy I could definitely feel the healing power go through me. It’s so hard to explain, but I can’t walk away now and pretend none of this is happening because it is. And I